Spotify introduced its AI-driven personalized DJ feature in February, characterizing it as a “carefully curated lineup of music accompanied by commentary about the tracks and artists we believe will resonate with you, delivered in an astonishingly realistic voice.”
This AI DJ functionality has been extended to users in Australia and New Zealand, as well as several new geographic areas in Europe, Asia, and Africa.
In conjunction with this announcement regarding the feature’s extension, Spotify also divulges some statistics concerning the popularity of its AI DJ innovation:
- The AI DJ has surfaced as the “most talked-about Spotify feature on social media among users.”
- Listeners on Spotify are dedicating nearly one-third of their listening time to the AI DJ experience.
- When the AI DJ offers commentary alongside music recommendations, listeners are more willing to embrace novel music or indulge in tracks they might have otherwise overlooked.
The expanded list of new countries embracing this AI DJ feature encompasses Antigua, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Barbuda, Belize, Botswana, Burundi, Canada, Dominica, Eswatini, Fiji, the Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Malta, the Marshall Islands, Namibia, Nauru, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Singapore, the Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sweden, Tanzania, Tonga, Uganda, the United Kingdom, the United States, Vanuatu, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Functioning at its core as a perpetual radio station-style music stream, the AI DJ feature tailors its offerings based on individual listening history and habits. The AI DJ’s voice guides seamless transitions between songs reminiscent of traditional radio stations, with explanations for the song selections, their relevance to past listening sessions, and more.
Having extensively employed Spotify’s DJ feature since its debut in February, I subscribe to Spotify, even as I predominantly engage with Apple Music. Intriguingly, Apple Music introduced the “Discover Station” recently, akin to Spotify’s DJ feature.
This station offers an unending stream of algorithmically selected music tailored to users’ preferences. One key distinction is that it refrains from playing songs already in a user’s library.
Apple Music also presents a personalized station, adroitly intermixing songs that align with users’ tastes alongside familiar artists and tracks.
While Apple Music is closing in on replicating Spotify’s AI DJ functionality, the pivotal missing element remains the DJ’s narrative voice.
In my experience, its articulate explanations for song recommendations set Spotify’s AI DJ apart. For instance, it might say, “Considering your affinity for Coldplay, here’s a Radiohead track we believe you’ll relish.”
It’s plausible that Apple is actively exploring comparable avenues, potentially leveraging Siri to transition between songs while offering intriguing tidbits, quick insights, and elucidating the rationale behind novel song suggestions.
Source(S): 9to5mac
